NHL Power Rankings 11/18

Posted By
Graig Woodburn
On
November 19, 2009 @ 7:47 am
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General |
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As the NHL[1] nears the quarter mark of the season, the WEEI power rankings sort things out.

1. 14-5-0 The Devils are tough on the road (9-1) and just rounding into form under Jacques Lemaire, posting an 8-2 mark in their last 10. Strong start for forward Zach Parise[2], 24 points in 19 games, a plus-13. Martin Brodeur[3] has started 17 of 19 and posts a .920 save percentage.

2. 14-5-4 Tuesday loss to Nashville costs the Sharks the top spot. Dany Heatley[4]‘s 14 goals not a great surprise, but Patrick Marleau[5] with 13? Still, it’s November.

4. 12-5-2 The Blackhawks are starting to click on all cylinders. Cristobal Huet[7] is getting things done in goal, (2.25 GAA). They have the best penalty-killing in the league. Duncan Keith[8] (15 points in 19 games) is sixth in the league in scoring by defensemen.

5. 13-6-3 The Avalanche may be coming back to earth after a surprising start. The Avs are just 5-4-1 in the last 10 games. Center Ryan O’Reilly[9] is third in rookie scoring (15 points) but was minus-3 in a loss Wednesday.

6. 12-5-1 Look out, the Sabres are starting to settle into the division lead. And wrestling it back from 6-foot-8 rookie defenseman Tyler Myers[10] (averaging 21 minutes of ice time) could be a tall order.

7. 12-5-2 The Flames’ leading scorer is Rene Bourque[11] (21 points). Enough said. Specials teams is in the middle of the pack. Must be the goaltending ‘ as in, Miikka Kiprusoff[12] and his .921 save percentage.

8. 13-8-2 Decent (3-2) road trip, then a stumble at home Wednesday to the Flyers. Anze Kopitar[13] is atop the league in scoring, but he was shut down in a loss to the Flyers.

9. 10-6-3 Leaves are falling, Wings are rising (7-2-1 in last 10). What else is new ? How about the Niklas among the list of top scoring defenseman being Kronwall[14] (13 points) and not Lidstrom[15].

10. 14-7 The Penguins[16]‘ last-second comeback and OT win against Bruins gets the defending champs back in the groove. Getting that Malkin[17] guy back doesn’t hurt.

11. 12-5-1 Nice win Wednesday in LA to start a West Coast swing for the Flyers, who had been 7-3 in their last 10. Steady as it gets for defenseman Chris Pronger[18] ‘ 17 points in 18 games, a plus-14.

13. 8-4-6 The talent is starting to shine in the Sunshine State. All those who said Lightning goalie Antero Niittymaki[22] would post anything near a 1.93 GAA and .939 save percentage, please step forward.

14. 8-6-7 It’s Matt Moulson[23] time on the Island. His 10 goals rank as tops on the team. Number 1 pick John Tavares[24] leads the team and all NHL[25] rookies in scoring (19 points in 21 games). Gritty win against the B’s.

16. 11-9-1 The Blueshirts are fading after a fast start, just 4-6 in their last 10. Rookie defensemen Michael Del Zotto[29] (15 points) and Matt Gilroy[30] (19 minutes a game) are still playing big roles.

17. 9-5-6 No one dances into securing one standings point like the Stars. Just don’t lose in 60 minutes, baby. Second-year winger James Neal[31] already has 11 goals.

18.12-9 Ilya Bryzgalov[32] (2.04 GAA) and a veteran defense keep things level for the Coyotes in the desert. Offense still is a problem. Two defensemen, Ed Jovanovski[33] and Adrian Aucoin[34], are among the team’s point leaders. Not a good thing.

19. 11-10-0 Meandering along at .500 is not where the Canucks want to be, but playing without Roberto Luongo[35] in goal for two weeks makes it not so bad.

20. 10-8-1They’re starting to find the right chord in Music City, as the Preds are 7-3 in their last 10. Solid second season for goalie Pekka Rinne[36] (2.40 GAA, .914 SP)

21. 9-6-3The Senators are not the power they once were. But they’re no pushover either. Daniel Alfredsson[37] is generating his usual point per game (19 points, 18 games), but Johnathan Cheechoo[38] (1 goal) is hardly making fans forget about Dany Heatley[39].

22. 8-8-4 The Bruins have been treading water until their top-line players return, but that project is just about complete. Considering the scoring woes and stretches of lackluster play, .500 is not a bad place from which to get back into winning form.

24. 8-9-2You could do a lot worse than counting on Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun[45] (.921 SP) to carry you into the playoffs. You probably could do a lot better than expecting leading scorer Steven Reinprecht[46] (15 points) to do the same. Just saying.

25. 7-12-2Those boring wins under former coach Jacques Lemaire are not looking so bad now for the Wild. Derek Boogaard[47] is still looking for his first point of the season. To the extent he looks for points.

26.6-10-3 Who would have thought that trading monster Chris Pronger[48] and other key defenders would result in an awful defensive team. Couldn’t see that one coming. Corey Perry[49]‘s current 12-game point streak (17 points) is the best in the league this season. It could win him a trip to the Vancouver Olympics.

27. 9-10-3- A third-period rally allowed the Oilers to end a four-game losing streak Wednesday. It was just the third win for Edmonton in the last 13 games. Much-maligned offer sheet signee Dustin Penner[50] finally is showing his worth, leading the team in scoring (23 points).

28. 3-11-5Toronto still is waiting for that Phil Kessel[51] infusion (5 goals, 3 assists in 7 games) to lead to wins. The Leafs are just 2-5 since No. 81 jumped into the lineup. Then again, they have twice as many wins with him as without.

29. 6-8-4 The hottest team in the league after December last season is frozen in a bad place so far this year. Fewest goals scored in the league ‘ on a team with Keith Tkachuk[52], Paul Kariya[53], Andy McDonald[54] and Brad Boyes[55]? Them’s the Blues.